Picker-check for looms.



A. E. RHOADES.

PICKER CHECK FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION TILED D1302, 191:2v

Extented Dec. 1. 1914.

Imam 20222 (LE/Evade?! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ALONZO E. RHOADES, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DEAJPEE- COMPANY,-OF HOPEDALE, IMASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

PI CKER-CHECK FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 2, 1913. Serial No. 804,277.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Anonzo E. RHOADES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hopedale, county oflWVorcester, and Stateof Massachusetts, have invented an Improvementfin Picker-Checks for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specificaits stroke, the parts being so arranged and disposed. that the excessive Wear and injury so common in this general .class of devices are avoided,-'.all as 'Willbest-be made clear fro ithe. following description and accompanyingdra'wings of one form of means for carrying the invention into practical effect.

In. the. drawings Figure l is a front view'of suliicient parts at one side of a .loom to show the-present invention-and its asso ciation therewith;'Fig. 2 is a section on the 'line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2.

The present invention may be employed with any character of loom wherein the shuttle .is thrown through the shed by a picker and picker-stick, but in the present exploitation of the invention it is shown as used in a loom of-the filling replenishing .type, wherein the lav l hasthe usual shuttle boxes, that illustratedin the drawing being at the detecting end of the lay and provided 7 with an opening'2 inthe' front'wall through whichsuitable feeler mechanism may enter to feel for, the filling {1 in-t'he shuttlev 5 when the'latter is in said box, but-these details form :10 essential part of the present invention. The picker stick 6 carrying the picker 7 to act upon the shuttle, and the means for operating the picker stick may be as usual, and being well understood by those skilled in the art, further description and illustration thereof are unnecessary. I As the picker stick moves from its full to its dotted line position under action of its operating mechanism in picking the shuttle, it is desirable that it be properly brought to rest;

and, similarly, as it returns to itsfull line position under the impact of the incoming shuttle, it is desirable that its movement be checked with the parts in proper relative positions, as well'understood-by those familiar. with this class of machines. heretofore been proposed in an attempt to secure these ends, and in someinstances leather straps have been employed-to act upon the picker sticks, but in all such cases,

the straps have been so arranged andrelated to the picker sticks that serious objections have been introduced in the use of such straps, and in some instances the excessive wear and injury thereto have necessitated frequent renewal and loss of loom output. \Vith these and other facts in vieW,-the present invention contemplates means whereby Patented Dec, 1, 19i4.

Means have straps of suitable material may be einployed;

to act individually upon the picker sticks and check the movementofeachlasit approaches the end of its stroke in either direction and at the same time overcome the defects and objections incident to priordevices of this general type. As one means to these ends, each picker stick is provided with a check strap movable bodily 'with the picker stick as it approaches each end' of its stroke, said strap being under the influence of movement obstructing or'retarding means,'

the construction being such that the strap may, by its retarded bodily movement, bring the'picker stick to rest in proper position without chafing action between'the picker stick and strap, as will more fully appear.

Inasmuch as the picker checks at each end of the lay may be substantially the same, or varied only as associated parts may dictate,

a description of one will besufiicienttomake clear the essentials of the invention.-

' Secured to the end portion of the lay in' I separated relation are strap supporting brackets. These may be substantiallyfialike and comprise a shank ,10, Figs. l and 3,'se

cured to the lay by'suitab'le means, such asv the bolts 9, one bracket being preferably secured to the front and thenther to the back of the lay below the shuttle box, the essential in this respect being that asp'ace maybe provided between the brackets for movement of the picker stick. 1

At its lower portion the shank of each bracket is provided with ahead 11, and depending from the head of each bracket is an elongated strap bearing 12 having suitable strap supporting means at its lower portion, as the flange 13, Figs. 1 and 3.

Mounted in the brackets below the head 11 is anendless strap 14, inclosing the pickerstick, and of a length from end to end that the picker stick will engage the end portions 15, 15 ot' the strap as the picker stick ap--- proaches the limit of its movement in each direction. v

Depending from the head 11 of each bracket are the studs 16,- 16, which afford suitable supports for the shoes 17, 17, two of which are preferably employed in connectiori' with each bracket, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. These shoes have bearing portions 18, 18, through which the studs 16, 16 pass, and the parts are maintained in assembled relation as indicated in Figs. land 2, by suitable means, suches the washers 19 and cotter pins 20,'-.,Fig. 1a, the shoes being thus approximately supported below the heads 11 with their free end portions extending in opposite directions toward the ends 21, 21, of the elongated strap bearing 12. In the form of the invention hown the shoes 17 have their free end portions substantially adjacent the ends 21, 21, of the elongated strap bearing 12, but in this and other respects the construction and arrangement. may be varied within the true scope of the actual invention, as defined by the claims.

The hoes 17, 17, are preferably provided with somewhat curved friction faces 22, 22, adapted to bear upon one surface of the end less strap L1 and are forced into appropriate contact with said surface of the endless strap by a yielding means.

As a simple and convenient form of means i for yieldin g1 y forcing the oppositely extending shoes upon the surface of the endless strap, each shoe is provided with a socketed heel portion 23 for the reception of a spring 24, one end of which finds a seat in the bot tom of the sockcted heel portion of one shoe and the other end preferably upon a spring tension adjusting device carried by the socketcd heel portion of the other shoe.

In the present form of the invention, the springadjusting device comprises a stem 25 threaded into the outer heel portion of one shoc. substantialiy as indicated in Fig. 2, said threaded stem preferably carrying a spring seat 26 having a head 27, by which it may be adjusted to vary the tension of the spring. WVhcn the screw'stem 25 has been adjusted to impart to the spring 24 the desired tension, the parts are retained in adjusted position by a lock nut 28.

Since the picker stick iiswinga from a center below the lay, it will take oppositely inclined positions, as it reaches the outer and inner end of its stroke, substantiall as in-. dicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. t is desirable, however, that the picker check strap 14 shall have an appropriate square bearing upon the outer face of the picker stick in either position of the picker stick, and to this end the present invention contemplates making the strap bearing 12-, Fig. 3, of greater depth than the width of the endless strap 14, so that as the picker stick moves from one to itsother position, the endless strap 14 will not only be moved bodily with present invention, it will be noted that-the endless strap 14 is sustai ed at each side of the path of the picker stick in such manner as to permit the strap to be moved bodily with the picker stick as the latter ap preaches either end of its stroke, and it will be further noted that by reason of this bodily mo'vergentlof the entire strap 14 in its two bearing supports, all chafing or un due wear between thep'icker stick and' the stra p, as the former moves the latter, is bb viated. By providing thetwov similar bear ing supports for the endless strap at each side of the'path of picker stickmoveme'nt, and by properly adjusting the movementresisting device or shoes- 17 to equalize the frictional action of the, shoes upon both runs of the belt, it willfbe seen-that both runs of the belt, that is, those portions engaged by the bearing devices, will be moved through the said devices substantially equal amounts as the picker stick approaches either end of itsstroke thus doing away with all chafing action oflthe picker stick upon the belt, as would -the case if the two runs of the belt were not permitted such equal movements. It will also'be seen from the construction described that, the shoes 1( preferably act' upon an extehdedarea ofthe strap surface and by their'iciirved contacting faces, obviate the excessive wear upon the belt at these points, andby permitting the belt to tilt, substantially as indicated by full and dotted lines, Fig. 1,;.-as the picker stick ap 'iroaches either endof its stroke, a.

stricted thereto, but is dcfinitcl set forth by the claims.

What is claimed is E. In a. picker check or loon'is, the combination of n picker and picker stick, an cndlrrr bolt suited to be bodily :norod equally throng out by the" pickcr stick as it upproiwln-s th 0nd of sirokc and to bc l lo-d in opposiir iii-curious by tho lllillu'l stick as it IIli'JVlA- tomir l the end of its respective strokes to g1; :li :a lull bowing portion of thc strap to the picker stick. and l'IH'iB-IlS opymsing the bodily moremcnt of the endless belt ln :1 piclnr cneck for looms, the combinatioo. of :r picker and picker stick, an endless bolt embracing the picker stick and 'idnpted to bc engaged throughout its width and bodily mowed by the picker stick as the latter upprouchcs either end of its stroke and nmintuin such engagement throughout its Width unchanged during the continued bodily moyrnnont of thc endless belt and pickcr stick.

3. in u picker chock for looms, the eornbination of '1 picker and pickcr stick, on endu? s belt mhr:icing the picker stick and :uhrptcd to be engaged throughout its width and bodily nun-2d. by the picker stick as the lutlcr approarlics either end of its stroke l irmintsiio such cngagrnicnt unchanged 51;: the cnlin'ucd bodily movrmcnt of wt and pi ker stick, and yielding s :wrirg upon both runs of the endless belt to rctaul its bodily movement.

i, la: :a wake;- cocc-r for looms, the cornof a )icker and picker stick. an o belt cm uucing said picker stick and rl to be bodily moved equally oughout the sonic picker stick as it oaches the end of its stroke in either ion, and yielding means acting equally 1h run of theendlcss belt and opposing the bodily mo eincnt of the endless belt in citocr :lirmtirm.

in niclvc check for looms, the comn or u picker and pickcr stick, an belt embracing tho picker stick and adorned to h on by the picker stick on its stroke in ililill dimrricn. bearing supports for the eudlrss belt at each side oi the pa fl of picker movement per mitting o aide portions of the endless belt to trim to conform to the engaging surfucc oi the picker and moved equal rts hi" the picker stick as it approaches a r 1d of its stroke in eitlrcr direction and minimum rl c engagement of the picker stick and bill, umtlrungcd.

(3r ln n p t rcheck for looms, a picker and pidker st an endless belt embracing thc picker stick and adapt-2d to be engaged by the {picker stick it approaches the end of its "stmkc in either direction, b ackets having belt bearing port-ions, shoes pi otally mounted on the brackets and bearing against the belt at each side of the path of picker stick movement, and means acting yieldingly upon the shoes to retard bodily mm ement of the endless belt.

7. In a pickcr chcck'for looms, a picker und picker stick, an endless belt embracing the picker stick and adapted to be bodily moved equally throughout by the same picker stick as it approaches the end of its stroke in eithcr direction, brackets supporting the endless strap at opposite sides of the path of picker stick movement, and permitting the endless strap to tilt and maintain its initial engagement with the picker stick to the end of the picker stick movement.

8. In a picker check for looms, a picker and picker stick, an endless belt embracing the picker stick and adapted to be bodily moved equally throughout by the some picker stick as it qpproaches the end of its stroke in either direction, brackets loosely supporting the endless strap at 0pposite sides of the path of picker stick movement to perm t the strap to tilt and present ii furl m n surface to the picker stick at each end or its movement, means for applying the some movement resisting ion to both runs of the endless strap at or; :ositr sides of the path of picker stick movement to cause both runs of the belt to more like amounts under the action of the picker stick.

9. In a loom, the combination of a picker and picker stick, an endless belt of less length than the full stroke of the picker stick, means for supporting the belt for engagement by the picker stick as it approachcs the end of its stroke in either direction and permitting the belt to tilt in opposite directions to present a full. bearing time to the picker stick as it moves to and reaches the end of its stroke in either direction, and means for insuring equal movements of both runs of the endless belt to prevent chafing of the belt upon the picker stick as the former is moved by the latter.

10 In a loom, the combination of picke and picker sticl', an endless belt, means for supporting the endless belt 50 that its length between portions that are to be engaged by the picker stick shall be less than the full. stroke of the picker stick to permit the latter to engage the belt as it approaches the end of its stroke in either direction, and means including oppositely extending bearing shoes to engage the belt for insuring equal movements of both runs of the endless belt as the latter is moved by the picker stick to prevent chafing of the belt upon the picker stick.

11. in a loom, the combination of a icker and picker stick, an endless belt a apted to have portions engaged by the picker stick as the latter approaches the end of its stroke, brackets supporting the endless belt on opposite sides of the path of picker stick movement, shoes pivotally mounted on the brackets and having curved surfaces for engaging the belt, and means for forcing the shoes against the belt.

12. In a loom, the combination of a picker and picker stick, an endless belt adapted to have portions engaged by the picker stick as the latter approaches the end of its stroke, brackets supporting the endless belt on opposite sides of the path of picker stick movement, a pair of shoes mounted on each bracket, and a sprin acting on the shoes to force them against the belt.

' 13. In a loom, the combinatidn of a picker and picker stick, an endless belt adapted to have portions engaged by the picker stick as the latter approaches the end of its stroke, brackets supporting the endless belt on opposite sides of the path of picker stick movement, a pair of shoes pivotally mounted on each bracket and having heel portions,

and a spring acting against the heel portions to force the shoes against the belt.

14. In a icker check for looms, the combination of a picker and picker stick, an endless belt adapted to have portions engaged by the picker stick as the latter a proaches the end of its stroke in either irection, brackets for supporting both runs of the endless belt and having a belt bearing portion, a pair of shoes pivotally mounted on each bracket with their free ends extending in opposite directions, a. spring for forcing the shoes against the belt, and means for equalizing the action of the shoes of each bracket upon the belt to in sure equal movements of both runs of the endless belt as the belt is moved by the picker stick.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALONZO E. RHOADES.

Witnesses:

ROBERT J AMIESON, DANA Oscoon. 

